Amazon MGM Studios has officially named Steven Knight creator of Peaky Blinders and acclaimed screenwriter of films like Eastern Promises and Spencer—as the writer of the upcoming James Bond film, under development with Denis Villeneuve directing, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing through Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films, respectively. Tanya Lapointe will executive-produce.
Knight, a British writer honored with a CBE, spoke on BBC Radio about how writing Bond is “something I’ve always had on my bucket list,” and said he intends to deliver a story that is “the same but different… better, stronger and bolder”
This hire represents a marked creative shift—longtime Bond franchise scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who have contributed to the series since The World Is Not Enough (1999), are reportedly not involved, suggesting Amazon MGM is charting a new course with this 26th installment.
Given Knight’s signature style—gritty, psychologically complex, and character-driven—this suggests the tone of Bond 26 is likely to echo the darker, more introspective energy of Daniel Craig’s tenure, rather than the lighthearted flair of earlier eras like Roger Moore’s style.
While the name of the next James Bond has yet to be revealed, speculated contenders include Aaron Taylor‑Johnson, Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, and Harris Dickinson, though no official casting has been confirmed.
With Villeneuve busy completing Dune: Part Three, and Bond still in early development, a 2028 release remains the earliest feasible date—making it potentially the longest gap between Bond films since the franchise began in 1962.